Chapter 102: Still Holding a Countermove

It feels a lot like opening Pandora's box.

It makes one's heart feel unprecedented tension and unease, as if it can see the nervousness and fear of everyone present.

And this mysterious‑scaled demonic jiao also revels in the feeling of towering over everything and controlling all the despair of human martialists.

He continues, laughing, and says.

"Speaking of it, just as you all guessed in your hearts."

"Inside this rustic box lies the treasure I want to show you; today I'll properly open your eyes."

"Speaking of it, this is also a fate‑defying adventure of mine: I found a Demon Emperor's tomb in the Northern Julu Continent."

"From it I obtained a…"

At this point, the mysterious‑scaled demonic jiao deliberately pauses, then its voice shoots up an octave, and its laugh sounds like nails scraping a blackboard, unbearably shrill.

But the words it utters make everyone present widen their eyes as if they'd heard something utterly incredible.

"You all can't imagine—I actually found a Demon Emperor's hand!"

"Ha ha, you didn't expect it, did you? I really did find a Demon Emperor's arm."

"Among the Demon Race, my lineage is, at best, mediocre—better than some, worse than others."

"I do not belong to the aristocracy of the Demon Race."

"Yet this Demon Emperor's arm I discovered can make my bloodline leap forward and improve upon this foundation."

"It lets me go a step further beyond the hundred‑foot pole, vastly boosting my future potential."

"For me, and for the clan behind me, this will be a pivotal moment that changes a life's destiny."

"From now on, you will bear witness to this scene destined to be recorded in the annals."

"So feel honored by your sense of mission!"

"Now, it is time to witness history!"

Although through this jiao's self‑narration one can sense from its tone and manner that it is undeniably a being of great intelligence.

Moreover, Li Mu can't help but start to daydream.

If it weren't for the suppression of the treasure tower, how terrifying the Demon Race's power could be remains a question.

Li Mu himself dares not even imagine that.

One could say that, in the present situation, for him and all the Outer Disciples around him, it is both a blessing and a tremendous misfortune.

Not only that, regardless of anything, things have already developed to this point, and Li Mu is fully aware.

He has no way back!

Now he can do nothing else; the only thing he must do is grit his teeth and prepare to walk a road into darkness.

Since he has decided to fight, he will simply fight to the end, leaving no retreat.

However, although Li Mu has already prepared in his heart for a mutually destructive clash with this jiao,

the other disciples, in contrast to Li Mu, clearly lack his composure; after hearing those words, they feel their hearts go cold, as if about to plunge into an abyss.

My heavens, although I didn't understand at all, that jiao just babbled on for ages.

What on earth it was trying to convey.

But given our current predicament, even a fool could see that the situation is decidedly unfavorable to us.

We must find a way to reverse it.

Song Haolin tries to slowly step back.

But under the oppressive terror of the Demon aura, any slight movement would be instantly detected by the jiao.

Yet just as Li Mu feels clearly trapped, the jiao suddenly jerks its hand.

The rosewood box he was holding was flung into the air.

At the same time, the extremely complex and terrifying seal that covered the rosewood box was completely broken.

In a brief instant, a withered, lard‑like arm slowly floated up from the rosewood box.

Not even a single incense stick's worth of time passed.

In the next moment, the skeletal, gaunt hand, which a second ago resembled a dried corpse, began to swell continuously with the surrounding aura's change—swelling, swelling, swelling.

All of this unfolds in an unpredictably bizarre transformation.

No one could imagine how terrifying the arm would evolve in the next second, but Li Mu's inner doubt did not linger long.

In less than ten minutes, a chilling, breath‑snatching mental oppression emanated from the grotesque hand—an eerie psychic wave, an evil and horror beyond any current human language, filled with endless malice.

All of this surged toward the crowd like a tsunami.

At that moment, even the sky above the plaza showed visible strange phenomena.

Countless red fire‑clouds surged from all directions toward here.

The whole world's view dimmed, as if the very realm they occupied would be utterly destroyed and collapse in the next instant.

Bloodshed, terror, slaughter, resentment, hatred, devouring, destruction, cruelty—every negative emotion filled the vast plaza.

It hung over the crowd like clumps of dark clouds.

It made their throats tighten, hearts race, and unprecedented fear knocked them to the ground, immobilizing them.

The bizarre arm, with countless veins and the Demon Race's unique runic script, now hung on the brink of death.

It seemed that a slight breath would turn the hand into dust, as if it had long been dead and nonexistent in this world.

Yet even so, the mere symbolic significance of its appearance could alone decide eternity, devour the heavens, and erase the Nine Provinces' Great Emperor.

And while Li Mu and Ziyang stood, the other Outer Disciples trembled in fear at this bizarre Demon Race tactic.

Yet the jiao's expression bore a solemnity and sanctity incomprehensible to ordinary people.

He presses both hands together, kneels heavily on the plaza's central floor, repeatedly kowtowing to the gaunt, withered arm while muttering incomprehensible words.

"Supreme Great Emperor, please accept the offering from your most loyal disciple; my reverence for you is ever the most devout."

"For the Great Emperor, if you can restore your peerless elegance within this world, I am willing to make all sacrifices and efforts."

"I only hope to receive a small bit of your protection, to change my fate of being imprisoned and suppressed."

"As for the price of the exchange."

"Regarding all the human cultivators you see in this plaza, their flesh, blood, soul, spirit, will, and everything, I am willing to offer them as tribute, presenting them to you, Great Emperor, with both hands."

"You need not hesitate; fully enjoy everything your followers contribute to you."

"At the necessary moment, I am willing to sacrifice my own body and soul."

"However, while that sea‑dragon was muttering and chanting strange sutras, a man's roar suddenly came from behind: 'Monster!'"

"Today I just want to tell you, the victor becomes king and the loser a bandit; I have no regrets."

"Today, falling into your palm, my defeat is one of heartfelt submission; I have nothing left to say."

"Even ants merely cling to life!"

"Moreover, I am still human; since things have come to this point."

"My failure may already be a fact, but I am willing to exhaust all means and abilities to issue you one final challenge."

"If you can endure this critical moment, then I will still go die now, and can smile into the Nine Springs without regret."

"While that sea‑dragon continued its relentless ritual, Song Haolin suddenly rose slowly from the ground."

"At this moment, Song Haolin was dramatically different from his usual state, his whole body enveloped in a terrifying blood‑red aura."

"This made every Outer Disciple, including Li Mu, gasp sharply in disbelief."

"Because they all knew that this meant Song Haolin had chosen to burn his own essence and soul, a sign of his desperate final strike."

"At the same time, a death resolve had already sprouted in his eyes, deciding to fight to the death here."

"Interesting!"

"Looks like you little brat are still a centipede, dying yet unyielding."

"Until now, you still haven't chosen to honestly accept your destiny."

"Fine, since you sincerely seek death, I will simply grant your small wish."

"Then I will give you another chance to strike at me!"

"This time, I will make your death proper!"

"This is the gap in realms between you and me."

"But the sea‑dragon merely curled its lip."

"Watching Song Haolin, whose whole body boiled with battle intent, his heart held no fear at all; instead, a smug, cat‑playing‑mouse grin lingered at his mouth."

"Yet facing the sea‑dragon's mockery, Song Haolin clenched both hands tightly around his sword hilt."

"He raised his long sword above his head, and his aura reached its peak at that moment."

"Immediately, a massive pillar of light shot up from the ground beneath his feet, and he let out the loudest roar of his life."

"Forcefully cleave Huashan!"

"Song Haolin's words rang like the wrath of five thunder gods; a single slash unleashed rolling golden blade energy that surged toward the sea‑dragon like a tide."

"Clearly, this was his strongest slash at present, without equal."

"Yet, even though Song Haolin had completely burned himself out, this did not earn the sea‑dragon any respect."

"Instead, his grin on his face grew even more pronounced as he howled with wild laughter."

"Hahaha, I thought you were holding it in there for ages, wondering what big move you could produce."

"All that fuss, but it's just big thunder with little rain."

"Such flashy yet flimsy attack is nothing but a joke."

"What?"

"Just as the sea‑dragon was about to casually shatter Song Haolin's attack, it turned out Song Haolin had another hidden follow‑up beneath that strike!"

"Who would have thought!"

"Song Haolin actually crushed a Spatial Jade Talisman outright!"

"Clearly, such a Spatial Jade Talisman is immensely powerful, breaking through the Zhu Tian Shen Mo Ta's seal and vanishing via teleportation!"

"With Song Haolin's escape, the hard‑won balance of the battle collapsed instantly at that moment!"

"The Outer Disciples who were teleported over, originally meant to help Li Mu share the pressure, were instantly slaughtered, each struck down by the dark‑scaled evil sea‑dragon!"